The Challenge Is In the Moment So I Took the Plunge

March 2, 2020

I haven’t been able to make this space a priority like I had hoped, and that truly saddens me because once upon a time, I wanted nothing more than to write for my website. It is hard to dedicate time to write because it involves so much more than just writing. There are so many steps before the post can go live—thinking of a topic, creating an outline, conducting any research, crafting a headline, writing a ton of drafts, finding or taking photos that will enhance the post, editing, and THEN reviewing it all before clicking ‘post.’ A full-time job and four children to tend to is in a word: exhausting.

The other night, Big Drew asked about my website. This is not a question out of left field. From time to time he will ask me why I haven’t written or when I plan to start up again. I didn’t expect my excuse to not be accepted. He told me, “Oh really? Well, rather than scrolling through social media on your phone how about you open up your notes and start typing up a blog?” He was right. I admitted as such, and while I still didn’t pursue the idea he suggested, the encounter changed the way I looked at time management.

You and I have the same twenty-four hours available to us each day. We have the same twenty-four hours as Jeff Bezos, founder of one of the largest e-commerce company in the world. An entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and media proprietor. His level of accomplishments borders on the unfathomable, but he has the same amount of time in a day as us. A successful billionaire who makes great use of his time. He recognizes the value in those twenty-four hours. He, along with many other successful CEOs of the world, do not waste minimal time on things that don’t matter, and they certainly never “don’t have enough time” for the important things that can make a huge difference in their lives.

I’ve said, “I don’t have time for that” many times to important things that could make a huge difference in my life. I learned that, often, it was because I was afraid to admit that it may be hard. It is so easy to say, “Oh I don’t have time so it can’t happen right now.” When really, I just don’t want to put in the effort into doing something that might be challenging.

So, you’re probably wondering what does any of that have to do with writing a blog post? Well, I last wrote about my life—essentially catching you all up to speed. I mentioned I was beginning my Master’s program and how excited I was. Guess what? I pushed it off because the idea of it sounded difficult so when people asked why I was pushing it off, I simply blamed “not having enough time.” Of course, that sounded legitimate because I have four kids and a full-time job.

There are many fears I had—one of them being that I wanted to dive in at a “right time.” I had to acknowledge that there is never going to be a perfect time for me to act. I couldn’t keep using excuses like, “I don’t have time. I already have a lot on my plate with little kids.” It is easy to come up with excuses and justify not getting started. The longer I continued to fill my head with rationalizations and empty excuses, the more I found myself in a vicious cycle that would be difficult to break free from and do something meaningful for my life.

I didn’t want to leave this goal of obtaining my Master’s degree unchecked. I know I don’t want to default toward a comfortable path and remain in a comfortable zone just because it provides a state of mental security. I always wanted to be someone who seizes opportunities and runs with them. People like Jeff Bezos (I don’t know why I’m referencing only him but you get the idea) realizes how little time he has and is driven him to make the absolute most of it. I don’t want to turn thirty and look back at my earlier twenties regretting not taking risks. I want to say I seized every moment of my days.

For me, the biggest hurdle was simply getting started. Now, I did research a ton of schools (this is an understatement). I applied to schools. I even selected a school, but once it started to get real, I took several steps back. I told the admissions department to defer my application. I was so afraid of adding something else to my plate. The idea of graduate school was overwhelming so I wanted nothing to do with it. There was a lot of self-doubt so I gave up before I had even started.

I told myself that for 2020, I would stop waiting until everything was “just right” because there will never be a perfect time. I knew there would always be less than perfect conditions so I needed to say, “Oh so who cares girl– just do it.”

I’m proud to say I paid for my first class yesterday. I’ve been registered for the entire academic year of 2020, but tuition was due so I took the plunge and paid. I immediately felt so empowered. There is no doubt in my mind that I have made a wrong decision. I’m ready to start and finish my program, which can be completed in a year and a half.

All and all, I know what my end goal in higher education is, and I know I need a Master’s degree to get where I want to be. We live in a world now that jobs are requiring a Master’s education. So long are the days that a bachelor’s degree held so much prestige. I could remain comfortable in my current job, paying my bills on time, and putting away money for my investments but then I would have another goal unchecked: my dream job.

I have children and a partner who look up to me. I want to continue being a role model. I want them to understand that the price of success is hard work and determination. My master’s degree is not purely for my own financial gain, but so my children can feel empowered as well. One day they will say, “Mom has a high-powered job. She persevered with kids, a full-time job, a personal life, and school.” If I can teach them to value their time, then I’ll be happy because then I know I’ve truly inspired them.

So, with that all being said, I feel very motivated to get started and push through this next year. When Big Drew mentioned writing, I knew right away I wanted to announce somewhere of my latest endeavor. If you read this far, then I appreciate you! I hope I can inspire you to tackle something (big or small) that you have put off because “you have no time.” Oh remember you do have time. Go ahead and start right now, and if you felt inspired by my post, then I hope you will let me know so I can continue encouraging you.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

I’m a working millennial mother from Jersey who aspires to be a helpful resource to many other parents. My hope is to one day be a stay-at-home mother full-time. I have a blonde-haired two year old boy named Drew who is the mini-version of my significant other but is a momma’s boy no doubt. I also have a three month old little girl named Jade. I’m a breastfeeding advocate, DIY addict with an occasional need to binge watch the cooking channel but by no means am I the cook in my family.